Signal for automobiles.



H. B. McGUIRE.

SIGNAL FOR AUTGMOBILES. APPLICATION men APR-2. 191s.

1,2Q5fl9w Patented Nov. 14, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET l- WITNESSES: INVENTOR.

A TTORNE Y H; B. McGUIRE. SIGNAL FOR AUTOMOBILES. APPLICATION FILED APR.2. I915.

Patented Nov, 14, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- INVENTOR. WITNESSES: I A j V BY p I Q%% TORNEY.

HAROLD B. MoGUIRE, OF FORT WAYNE, INDIANA.

SIGNAL FOB AUTOMOBILES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

atented Nov. to, illi t Application filed April 2, 1915. Serial No.18,680.

Signals for Automobiles, of which the fol-' lowing is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in signals for automobiles and isespecially contrived to designate the intended course over which theautomobile is to be driven, the signal being manipulated by the driverof the vehicle accordingly.

The object of the improvement is to provide a device that will operateeffectively in daylight as well as at night. under control of the driverof the automobile. and indicate distinctly to persons approached andfollowing, in what direction the driver intends to direct theautomobile.

The object of the improvement is accomplished by the constructionillustrated by the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the de- .vice: Fl 2 is a verticalsection of Pi 1 in F) l a plane at right angles thereto. the indicat ingarrow being shown only partly in section: Fig. 3 is a rear view of thedevice showing the mechanism for actuating the indicating arrow: Fig. iis a diagram showing' the electrical connections between the magnetsthat actuate the indicating arrow, the side lamps, and the controllingswitches: Fig. 5 is a diagram of the indicating arrow including theautomatic switch and lamps contained therein. Fig. (3 is a verti *al central section through the automatic switch while in upright position; andFig. 7 is a similar View of the same in horizontal position. y

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts throughoutthe several views and referring now to the same 1 is a housing linedupon the back of a supportingplate (2). and 3) is a trans 'iarent lasingfixed upon the front of the supporting plate (2). Upon each side of thesupport ing-plate is mounted a reflector (l) in which is arranged a sidelamp (5). These lamps and their reflectors are so disposed a to projectlight laterally.

Within the casing (3) is an indicating arrow ((3) fixed upon a hollowshaft (7) that extends loosely through the supportingplate Upon theinner end of the hollow shaft is a pinion (8) that meshes with asegmental gear (9-), the latter being pivotally mounted upon a screw(10) that extends into a boss 11) projecting from the'plate (2). Thelower end of the segment (9) is flat horizontally, and a flat springbears upwardly against the flat end'of the segment and the latter. dueto the pressure of the spring against its flattened surface is normallyheld in central position. The spring (12) is held at its inner end infixed relation with the boss (11) by means of a screw (13). To each sideof'the segment (9) is attached a connect'ihg rod (14) that extendsupwardly through a bracket (15) and has fixed thereon an armature (16).-

Over each of the armatures (16) is mounted in fixed relation with theplate (2) an electro-magnet (17) adapted, when excited, to attract thecorresponding armature so that the segment will be actuated and thepinion (8) accordingly rotated. As the pinion is moved the arrow (6) islikewise turned with the shaft (7) which is fixed to the pinion. It isthe intention that by exciting one or the other of the electro-mag nets.the arrow will be turned from its normal vertical position to ahorizontal position pointing either to the right hand or left handaccordingly as one or the other of the electro-magnets is excited. Andit is a further intent that when neither of the electro-magnets is inaction, the arrow will be returned to its normal vertical position andthis is accomplished by the spring (19) hearing against the flattenedlower end of the segment.

The arrow ((3) is made with a transparent front (18), and has mountedtherein two electric lamps (19) and (20), the bulb of the former beingof red glass, while the latter is of clear glass.

Within the tail of the arrow is an automatic switch composed of a block(21) of insulating material having a pocket (22) in its lower end anddivergent passageways (23) and (2 respectively leading up- 'ardly fromthe pocket. A quantity of mercury (25) is placed in the pocket ('22) andrests therein while the arrow is in vertical position and makes contactwith the screws (26) and (:27), the inner (,ll(l of which project intosaid pocket. When the arrow is in horizontal position the mercury willgravitate from the porkct to the opposite end of one or the other of thepassageways (23) or (24) accordingly as the arrow is turned to theright-hand or left-hand. When in'this position. the mercury will contactwith the ends of the screws and (29), or (30) and (31), as the case maybe.

Electrical current is introduced to the lamps and switch within thearrow through the leads (32) that enter through the opening (33) thatextends through the shaft. One of the leads (34) is connected with eachof the lamps (l9) and The other lead (35) has connection with the screws(27), (28) and (30). The red lamp (19) has connection with each of thescrews (29) and (31) and the lamp (20) has connection with the screw(2(5). The diagram, Fig. 4., shows each of the electro-magnets (17) withone of their terminals connected with one of the main leads (36) whichis intended to be connected with one of the terminals of a source ofelectrical energy. The other main lead (37) has connection with theother terminal of the source of energy and also with each of thepuslnbuttons (38) and (39), and each of said puslrbuttons has alsoconnection with one terminal of the corresponding electro-mag'net bymeans of connecting wires (40) and (4 1) respectively. The side lampshave connection between one of their terminals and the correspondingconnecting wires (l0) and (41) and their opposite terminals areconnected by means of wires (42) and (43) respectively with a. switch (42), and the switch has also connection with the main lead (36) so thatwhen the switch is turned on both lamps will have connection with saidlead One of the leads (34:) also has connection with the switch (ii) ina'manner well known to electricians so that when the switch is turned onthe lead (34) will have connection with the main lead (36). The otherlead (35) is connected directly to the other main lead (37). In thismanner when the switch (at) is turned. on the electrical circuit throughthe white lamp (20) in the arrow will be completed when the arrow is invertitical position. In the operation one of the devices is placed ateach end of the automobile in a cons 'iiiaious place so that it mayreadily be observed and the push-buttons and switches are locatedcmivcnicntly within the reach of the driver. and the electricalconnections are made accordingly as set forth. During day time theswitch (H) is turned oil so that the circuit through all the lamps isbroken. 'hen the driver dcsires to change his course toward the righthand, he may indicate his intention by operating the push-button (39)which will close the electrical circuit through the right hand magnet(12'), the cil'cct of which causes the arrow to-swinr; and pointhorizontally toward the right hand. The corresponding armature (16)being attracted by the mageashes net has the effect of turning; thesegment (9) that actuates the pinion (8), causing the shaft (7) to whichthe arrow is fixed to turn. When it is the intention to change thecourse toward the left hand, the push-button (38) is pressed completingthe circuit through the left hand magnet (17) which causes the arrow toturnv and point toward the left hand. Those persons approaching or'iollowing may ascertain the intention of the driver. During night time theswitch ie?) is turned on so that one terminal of each of the lamps isconnected with the main lead (36). The other terminal of the white lamp(20) in the arrow having connection through the mercury 25) in thepocket with the other main lead (37 will show light. When thepnslnbutton (39) is closed the corresponding magnet and side lamp willbe thrown into circuit and consequently the arrow will be turned so asto point toward the lighted side-lamp, and the mercury thereupon will:liow from the pocket (22) to the low end of the passage-way (24c) andform a connection between the screws (28) and (29), so that the redlight(19) in the arrow will show while the white light (29) becomesextinguished. When the push-hiltton (38) is closed the left hand magnetand side-lamps are thrown into circuit, and the arrow will he turned soas to point toward till the li hted side lamp and the mercury will. Iagain leave the pocket and flow down the passageway (23) and .connectthe screws (80) and (31), so that again the white lamp 20 is extin'uished and the red lame,

caused to glow. Thus, there appears to theobserver a red arrow pointingtoward a side lamp that projects its light in the direction the driverintends to steer. W hen the intention is to drive straight ahead thearrow is left in vertical or normal position, and at night showsconstantly a white light, signifying straight ahead. By arranging theside lamps and their reflectors angularly outward from the sides of thecase, as appears in Fig. 1, the lights as projected from them, being atan angle toward the intended direction of travel is inherentlysignificant of its meaning.

That I claim is:,

in apparatus of the class described, a supporting plate, a housing fixedupon the hack thereof, a transparent casing fixed upon the Front of theplate; an oscillating hollow shaft mounted cent ally in the plate andhaving a pinion fixed upon its rear end; a hollow arrow ha ring atranslucent front face and being mounted fixedly upon the shaltwii'hinthe casing; a pivoted segment within the housing engaging the pinion andhaving a iiat face; a flat spring bearing against the ,iace and adaptedto hold the segment normally in central position; two connecting rods.in connection with the nent, one upon each side of its pivotal point,and each having an armature fixed upon its upper end; a correspondingpair of electroinagnets positioned respectively above the armatures; aseries of electric lamps mounted. within the arrow and distinguishedfrom each other in color; conductors extending through the shaft forconveying current to the lamps within the arrow; a switch within 10 thearrow in connection with the conductors and lamps for completing thevarious circults leadlng to the several lamps accordingly as the arrowis turned; and means for selectively exciting the eleotro-magnets.

In testimony whereof'I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

HAROLD B. MCGUIRE. Viitnesses:

MATHILDA Mnrrnnn, WV. G. BURNS.

